A pattern formed over the next few days.
Hikaru found himself hanging around Jinx—partnering in training, sitting near him at meals, appearing in the library when he studied. She never directly confronted his identity again, but her presence felt like a constant test.
Other students noticed.
"Hey," Angel said one evening, "you realize you've been hanging around jinx all week, right?"
"I've noticed."
"That's... weird. The Five don't usually interact with regular students."
Kyd Wykkyd made a gesture that Angel translated: "He thinks she likes you."
"She's just bored," Hikaru said.
But he wasn't sure that was true.
During a free period, Hikaru found himself on one of the facility's observation decks—a small platform overlooking the main training floor. He stood watching students practice, making mental notes on capabilities and teaching methods.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Jinx appeared beside him, somehow having approached without sound.
"Just watching," Hikaru said.
"Judging?"
"Observing."
Jinx leaned against the railing. "You do that a lot. Watch people. Like you're cataloging them."
"Force of habit."
"From what? Your mysterious past?" She smiled. "You're like a puzzle, Lucian. Every time I figure out one piece, three more appear."
"Maybe I'm just boring and you're seeing patterns that aren't there."
"No. You're definitely not boring." Jinx turned to face him directly. "You're one of the most interesting people I've met in years. And I've met a lot of people."
The admission hung between them.
"Can I ask you something?" Hikaru said.
"Shoot."
"Why haven't you reported me? If you really think I'm hiding something big, why not tell the Headmistress?"
Jinx was quiet for a moment.
"Because," she said finally, "I'm tired of H.I.V.E. deciding everything for me. Who I fight, who I trust, what I believe." She met his eyes. "And because maybe I want to see what you're really after. Maybe I want to understand why someone would risk infiltrating this place."
"You're assuming—"
"Don't." Jinx held up a hand. "We both know what you are. Or at least, what you're not. You're not a lost kid looking for purpose. You're not desperate or broken or abandoned."
She stepped closer.
"You're here for a reason. some kind of mission. And honestly?" A sad smile crossed her face. "I respect that more than I respect most of the people in this place."
"What do you want from me?" he asked quietly.
"Nothing. Maybe everything. I don't know yet." Jinx looked away. "Just... don't lie to me more than necessary."
The vulnerability in her word struck him.
"I won't," Hikaru said. "As much as I can, I won't."
"Good enough."
They stood in a comfortable silence, watching the training floor below.
"For what it's worth," Hikaru said, "you're one of the most interesting people I've met too. And I've met a lot of people."
Jinx laughed. "Smooth."
"I try."
"You really don't."
Half way through the second week brought escalation.
Hikaru received the call to the administrator's office during lunch period. Angel and Kyd Wykkyd exchanged worried glances.
"That's never good," Angel muttered.
The administrator—a stern woman who'd processed his initial registration—sat behind her desk, smiling as he entered.
"Lucian. You've done well these past days. Integrated nicely, improved your control, helped other students."
"Thank you."
"Your instructors speak highly of you." She opened a drawer, retrieving a small device. "Here. You've earned this."
A H.I.V.E. communicator—sleek black design with the golden insignia, identical to the ones other students carried.
"Official student comm device," she explained. "You're one of us now."
Hikaru accepted it, letting genuine gratitude show on his face. "I appreciate it."
"Keep up the good work."
Outside the office, Hikaru examined the device. Perfect. Cyborg can hack this, and trace their entire network. Mission accomplished.
He turned a corner and nearly collided with Jinx.
"Congratulations," she said, eyeing the communicator. "Official H.I.V.E. student. How does it feel?"
"Like I've been accepted into an organization that trains criminals."
Jinx blinked, then laughed. "Points for honesty."
"You told me not to lie more than necessary."
"I did, didn't I?" She fell into step beside him. "So now you have access to our communications network, our class schedules, facility alerts. Everything a deep cover operative would need to complete their mission."
Hikaru stopped walking.
Jinx stopped too, turning to face him with an expression that was neither accusatory nor threatening.
"Like I said," she continued softly, "I'm not reporting you. But I'm also not stupid. You got what you came for. Question is, what happens now?"
"I don't know."
"Honest again. I'm starting to like that about you." She reached out, fingers brushing his arm lightly. "For what it's worth? I hope whatever you're doing works. This place..." She looked around the corridor. "It's not what these kids deserve."
"What about you? What do you deserve?"
The question seemed to catch her off guard.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I've been here so long, I'm not sure what else exists."
"There's a whole world outside these walls."
"Is there? For someone like me?" Jinx smiled sadly. "I'm bad luck, Lucian. It's literally what I am. Everything I touch eventually falls apart."
"That's not true."
"How would you know?"
"Because you've been around me for the past week and I'm still standing."
Jinx stared at him, something vulnerable and fragile in her expression.
"Maybe you're just lucky," she said finally.
"Or maybe you're not as unlucky as you think."
Before she could respond, the facility-wide alarm blared.
Both of them tensed, looking toward the speakers.
"Mandatory assembly," Jinx said. "All students to main auditorium immediately."
"What's this about?"
"I don't know. But mandatory assemblies are never good."
They moved with the flow of students streaming toward the auditorium. a dozen young metahumans, all looking confused or worried. Hikaru spotted Angel and Kyd Wykkyd in the crowd, made brief eye contact, but kept moving.
The auditorium filled quickly—easily a couple dozen students, maybe more. Hikaru hadn't realized how large H.I.V.E.'s student base was.
Jinx separated from him, joining the other members of the Five near the front. She glanced back once, expression unreadable.
The lights dimmed.
"Where's the Headmistress?" someone whispered nearby.
"Maybe she's making an announcement?"
The stage remained empty for a long moment. Then the side door opened, and a figure in crimson robes entered.
Silence fell like a hammer.
The old man's white hair swept back into devil-horn points, his chiseled features sharp beneath the animal skull crown. Red robes with black accents flowed as he walked, and when the stage lights focused on him, his presence became almost suffocating.
Brother Blood.